Bill Pullman Remembers Watching "Independence Day" With Then President Bill Clinton

Dan Lalonde
Oct 25
3 min read

Bill Clinton Bill Pullman Independence Day Roland Emmerich Dean Devlin White House

What is your favorite movie theater going experience? I have to say mine was watching the opening night of 'Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.' The audience roared with every new shot and it was packed with everyone in costume as a Jedi.

BIll Pullman, Roland Emmerich, and Dean Devlin are reminiscing with the Hollywood Reporter about when their hit film 'Independence Day' in 1996 was screened for then President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary in the White House screening room. Here is the full excerpt:

DEAN DEVLIN, writer-producer We were in the middle of doing a press junket in New York for the movie. The phone is ringing in my room. I pick it up and they said, “Could you hold for the White House.” I said, “What?” And they said, “The President would like to screen the movie tonight.”

ROLAND EMMERICH, writer-director All of a sudden we are standing in the middle of the White House, and Bill Clinton is chatting us up. They have the worst screening room there ever. It’s a former bowling alley, a little postmark of a screen.

DEVLIN In the front row is Hillary [Clinton] and Bill. And Bill has the largest tub of popcorn I’ve ever seen.

BILL PULLMAN, president Thomas Whitmore All three of us were in the back row, standing up, because we were too nervous to even take a seat.

DEVLIN Clinton waves to Roland to come sit down next to him.

PULLMAN Roland was so decisive. “I am German, I can’t go.” I thought, “That’s weak! You are the director.” And Dean, he wrote the speech! He said, “No, no, I’m too nervous.” By default, I said, “OK, I’ll serve the cause.”

EMMERICH Bill had to sit next to the president, right in front between [the Clintons]. Sandwiched in.

PULLMAN It was a little nerve-racking.

DEVLIN Remember in Amadeus at the end of the opera, it’s silent until the king claps his hands and then everybody claps? It was like that for every joke of the movie. No one wanted to laugh at a joke until they heard Bill laugh.

EMMERICH The first big destruction scene starts with blowing up the White House. In test screenings, a lot of people left right after, and then they immediately came running back. They didn’t pee earlier because they were so into the movie.

DEVLIN When we got to the moment the White House blows up, Roland and I are looking at each other going, “We’re in the White House watching it blow up.” It was bizarre.

EMMERICH Then, who runs out? Bill Clinton! One minute later, he comes back, shaking his hands dry. Dean and I looked at each other and nearly started laughing.

PULLMAN At the very end, Hillary leaned over and say, “You really were great, and if we ever need to step away for a weekend we know who to call.” Bill wanted to give me a tour. So we ducked out after the movie. It was just me and him walking around, talking about, “This is the desk from 1812 where they signed such and such.” I thought, “I’m glad it was me that went to watch the movie in front.”

Is 'Independence Day' one of your favorite blockbusters? Comment below with your thoughts.